our biggest role has been as an importer of their oil which is hardly an act of war against Arab nations or Arabs in general.
Yes, the US is the largest importer of oil in the world.
At the same time, the US is the largest arms exporter in the world. The middle east *by far* is the biggest importer of exported US weapons.
Draw, or refine, your own conclusions - but given the scope of weapons sales to what amount to dictatorships (ones that we like / don't like depending on the phase of the moon) plus Israel (all sides are not blameless) its pretty easy to see why some might consider US foreign policy to be one of aggression.
Some salient facts:
- Total defense industry US market share? 65% - 2002 up from 32% in 1990 - source: US GAO.
- Arms deliveries to "developing nations" alone in 2003 totaled $17 billion dollars out of a total (of what is known via declassification) of $25.6 billion.
- The US has led in arms exports as a % of market share for nine years in a row. (Source: Congressional Research Service). FYI among superpowers, Russia is next, and contrary to the angry folks on this thread, France is but a speck in comparison to US defense exports.
- FYI China exports barely anything, instead focussing its intention on procurement as it modernizes its military. China is on a buying spree too, number one on the list over the past three years moving to 9.3 billion from 4.4 billion in agreements.
More importantly...
- United Arab Emirates was the leading "developing world" arms purchaser from 1996-2003. In less than 10 years UAE has made agreements totalling $15 billion.
- Saudi Arabia took more deliveries of weapons in 2003 than any other developing country (they get no US grants... see below) -- $5.8 billion in arms.
But wait, there is more... US taxpayers actually pay foreign governments to take our weapons.
Aside from regular for-profit arms sales, the US gives - yes, gives - foreign governments money to buy arms from US arms suppliers. Not petty change either - 4 billion dollars.
Yes, your tax dollars totalling some $39,814,891,000 (39.8 billion) go to giving moeny away to numerous countries in the middle east over the last 10 year period (excluding 2004). And the amounts are going up.
Foreign Military Financing
(yes, you can finance - no wait, we like you so much we'll give you this free - that new sexy attack helicopter - would you like cammo green, nasty grey, or perhaps a plush pink model? We deliver!)
Foreign Military Financing refers to congressionally appropriated grants given to foreign governments to finance the purchase of American-made weapons, services and training. Since 1950, the US government has provided over $91 billion in FMF to militaries around the world. The vast majority of these funds goes to Israel and Egypt to reward them for making a cold peace in 1979.
1990 - 2003 database
fas.org
Egypt gets 1.3 billion in grants each year, totalling $18,194,410,000 since 1990, not including this year.
Israel gets a little more:
1990 $1,792,260,000
1991 $1,800,000,000
1992 $1,800,000,000
1993 $1,800,000,000
1994 $1,800,000,000
1995 $1,800,000,000
1996 $1,800,000,000
1997 $1,800,000,000
1998 $1,800,000,000
1999 $1,860,000,000
2000 $2,820,000,000
2001 $1,980,000,000
2002 $2,040,000,000
2003 $2,100,000,000
Total $26,992,260,000
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Jerusalem Post: Israel says US will sell it 5,000 smart bombs
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sep. 21, 2004 14:37
[sell? or give away?]
The United States will sell Israel nearly 5,000 smart bombs in one of the largest weapons deals between the allies in years, Israeli military sources said Tuesday.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the sources said the deal will expand Israel's existing supply of the weapons. They did not identify possible targets.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said the deal is valued at US$319 million and was revealed in a Pentagon report made to the U.S. Congress a few weeks ago. Funding for the sale will come from U.S. military aid to Israel.
The bombs Israel is acquiring include airborne versions, guidance units, training bombs and detonators. They are guided by an existing Israeli satellite used by the military.
As part of the deal, Israel will receive 500 one-ton bombs that can destroy two-meter (-yard) concrete walls, 2,500 one-ton bombs, 1,000 half-ton bombs and 500 quarter-ton bombs, the sources said. |
